Explore the world of a New Yorker who moved from a tiny cubicle to the world of pet portraits and illustration in New Hampshire. It IS possible to become an artist when you grow up. Follow me on my journey...

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About Me

Raised in rural NH, I grew up with trees and mountains as my playground. In 1997, I began my illustration studies at Syracuse University and graduated in 2001. I married my husband, Tom, in 2004. Together, we raise a dog and a cat.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Do you ever find the same messages repeating themselves in your life? I have noticed the theme of "letting go" popping up in various places. I've been having trouble falling asleep and decided to listen to some meditation podcasts on my ipod to help me drift off peacefully. The "Letting Go" meditation seemed to say, "Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!"

Then, we had take-out Chinese for dinner and I ended up getting one of those preachy fortunes. This was the kind of message that teaches a lesson, instead of describing the fabulous period of abundance that you will soon be entering. Once again, the "Letting Go" message popped up on my fortune cookie. I ate the cookie and didn't think about the message.

Today, I received a forward about a "Thought For The Day" from a friend. Can you guess what the theme was? Of course, it was about "letting go".

Since this theme keeps popping up over and over again, I've decided to reflect on what this means. I think that my meditation podcast sums it up well. Letting go isn't always about letting go of a feeling. It can be about releasing a thought that is occurring over and over again in our head. Sometimes, our minds start playing the same soundtrack on repeat. We want to relax and we keep worrying about our job interview or the laundry that needs to be done. Letting go sometimes means releasing an experience that we keep holding on to. Some of us may keep replaying a happy memory over and over again until it is an obsession. If we could just let go of the experience, we would open ourselves up to more cool experiences.

The same thing applies for the dreams that we really want to live. We may really want to travel to Peru. If we wish it and then release it, we leave the experience an open possibility. If we worry about how the trip will manifest or our crummy finances, we create a roadblock for realizing our dream.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The drawing above was a holiday commission for my lovely friend, Nancy Downs. This adorable girl is Gracie, the Miniature Schnauzer. We decided to draw Gracie on her favorite chair in charcoal. The wicker of the chair proved to be a challenging texture, but I honestly love a new drawing challenge. It helps me grow and I feel confident drawing wicker texture now! The pattern of the upholstery was very fun to draw. Floral prints translate very well in black & white.